354 BIOGRAPHICAf, SKETCHES.
stated that Downie accompanied Watt to his place at the W-ater-of-Leith, when
the order was given for the pikes. William Brown said he made fifteen
pikes by Watt’s order, to whom he delivered them ; and that, on a line from
Watt, Downie paid him twenty-two shillings and sixpence for the fifteen.
Margaret Whitecross, who had been at one time a servant of Mr. Downie, on
being shown one of the pikes, “declared that she saw a similar one in Mr.
Downie’s house one morning when she was dressing the dining-room : that Mr.
Downie had come home late the previous night : that Mr. Downie’s son, Charles,
came out of an adjoining closet, where he slept, as soon as he heard her in the
room, and took it away ; and at this time he had only part of his clothes on, and
did not seem to have any other business in that room: that she remembers
hearing Mrs. Downie ask her husband what he had done with the large dividingknije
which was found in the dining-room?-to which he answered, that he had
locked it by : that she never heard her master speak of having such weapons to
defend himself; and when she saw it, she thought she never saw such a dividing-
knife before.” A verdict of guilty was returned on both occasions ; and
sentence of death passed upon the prisoners.
Watt suffered the extreme punishment of the law according to the form
usual in treasonable cases.‘ Previous to his execution, he made a confession of
the extent and purport of the measures contemplated by the Committees.
Downie was pardoned, on condition of banishing himself from the British
strength. The play--“ Which is the Man ”-was allowed to go on to the end without interruption.
A few minutes of ominous silence followed, when a voice at last called out for I‘ God save the King,”
and “ off hats.” A general melee ensued, which put an
entire stop to the husiness of the stage, and created the utmost alarm. “ It is difficult to say,”
observe3 the Couraiit of that period, “ which party made the first attack ; it was furious beyond
exaniple ; each party had prepared for the contest by arming themselves with bludgeons ; and while
the affray lasted, the most serious consequences were apprehended, as both parties fought with
determined resolution, Many dreadful blows were given, which brought several individuals to the
ground; and the wounded were in danger of being trampled to death in the general confnsion.
The party, however, who insisted on keeping on their lists, being at length overcome, left the house,
and the wounded were carried out. A considerable
mob was congregated ont of doors anxiously waiting the result.
The execntion of Watt, which took place at the west end of the Luckenbooths, was conducted
with much solemnity. He was conveyed from the Castle on a black-painted hurdle, drawn by a
white horse, amid a procession of the magistracy, guarded by a strong military force, The prisoner,
who wag assisted in his devotions by the Rev. Principal Baird, exhibited a picture of the most
abject dejection. He was wrapped in a great-coat, a red nightcap, (which, on the platform, he
exchanged for a white one), with a round hat, his stockings hanging loose, and hi3 whole appearance
wretched in the extreme. He wax about the age of thirty-six, and was the natural aon of 8
gentleman of fortune and respectability, in the county of ‘Angus, but, as is usiial, took the name of
his mother. At about ten years of age he was sent to Perth, where he received a good education ;
and at sixteen he engaged himself with a lawyer ; but, from Home religious scrnples, took a disgust
at his employment ; and, removing to Edinburgh, was engaged as a clerk to Mr. E. Balfour, bookseller
(whose shop was afterwards occupied hy the Journal Office), with whom he lived for mome
pears, without any other complaint than the smallness of his salary. Being desirous of becoming a
partner of the business, he, by the inflnence of some friends, prevailed on his father to advance
money for that purpose ; and then made proposals to his employer ; but his oEer was rejected.
Having money in posaession, he entered into the wine and spirit trade, and for some time had
tolerable success ; but waa ruined, it was said, on the commencement of the war with France.
This seemed to be the signal for attack.
The pit was the principal scene of action.”
